Fairport State Recreation Area

On our past visits to Muscatine, Iowa, we have stayed at Shady Creek, a Corps of Engineers campground.  That option was not available because Shady Creek doesn't open until May.

Instead we chose Fairport State Recreation Area, which is managed by Iowa DNR and open year-round.  The 43 site campground is on the Mississippi River and costs $12/night this time of year for dry camping with electric hookups.  A pit toilet is available. It's a good idea to bring your own toilet paper.  

Once the water gets turned on, the price goes up to $18/night, but showers, toilets, garbage dumpsters and water spigots are available.  

The waterfront is the star of the campground.

We had a front row view of the river from our site.  The interior rows are fairly tight.  The back row is very close to the highway and very, very close to the train tracks, which is only a problem when the train comes through.  On our first night, there were no trains, but the other two nights included several train visits.

There were fewer than six other campers in the campground during our stay.  One family had recently been evicted and was angry at the world.  Lots of shouting, ranger visits for non-payment, etc.  They were in a pop-up camper and were using one of those electric fireplaces for heat.  I know because they first set it up on the picnic table.  Lots of colorful language about that purchase and where it should go, etc.

Another guy got his huge fifth wheel trailer (3 slide-outs) and four-wheel drive RAM 3500 truck massively stuck on wet ground.  He spun all four wheels for so long and hard that I thought he had blown his engine, and that the truck was on fire.  It was on the other side of the campground, but I came running with the news that there was a fire raging under his truck.  Another camper (more usefully) gave him their fire extinguisher, and he eventually was able to put it out the fire, although it reignited briefly.

It turned out that he had set fire to the grass and brush under his truck.  The tires spinning dug quite an impressive trench that he was unable to escape, even with his four-wheel drive in low.  With a straight face, he asked me if I could pull him out.  I told him that I didn't have near enough truck to do that.  The Nissan has a 6000 pound towing capacity, and he wanted me to  pull out his truck and fifth wheel.

A tow truck was called and winched both units out together.  After setting up in his site, the guy never left the comfort of his fifth wheel for the next two days.  That side of the campground will bear the scars of his adventure for awhile.